Major drunk-drive crackdown by police commissionerates

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

In a continued push for road safety, traffic police across Hyderabad, Malkajgiri, and Cyberabad conducted intensive special drives against drunken driving, resulting in the apprehension of nearly 960 offenders over the past week. Hyderabad Traffic Police conducted a focused two-day special drive on May 22 and 23, booking 438 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol. Of these, 365 were two-wheeler riders, 25 were three-wheeler operators, 47 were four-wheeler drivers and 1 belonged to other vehicle categories.98 of the cases booked by Hyderabad Traffic Police had Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels in the range of 30-50 mg/100 ml and in 5 cases it was above 300 mg/100 ml.

Similarly, the Malkajgiri Traffic Police has conducted a special drunk driving enforcement drive over the weekend, resulting in the apprehension of 227 offenders. The total cases booked 185 two wheelers, 12 three wheelers, 29 four wheelers and one heavy vehicles. Based on their Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels, 197 offenders had BAC levels ranging from 36 mg/100 ml to 200 mg/100 ml , 20 offenders had BAC levels ranging from 201 mg/100 ml to 300 mg/100 ml, 10 offenders had BAC levels above 300 mg/100 ml. Cyberabad Traffic Police also carried out a special weekend drive, catching 294 offenders. The majority (255) were two-wheeler riders, followed by 34 four-wheelers and 5 three-wheelers. BAC distribution in Cyberabad showed 244 offenders in the 36-200 mg/100 ml range, 30 in the 201-300 mg/100 ml range, and 20 with dangerously high levels between 301-550 mg/100 ml.

Police reiterate that if anyone is found to be driving in an inebriated condition and causes a fatal accident, such individuals will be booked under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Culpable Homicide Not Amounting to Murder). The maximum punishment under this section is 10 years of imprisonment along with a fine. In the last week ( May 17 to 23) a total 293 drunk driving cases booked by Malkajgiri Police were disposed in the courts, in which 11 persons got Jail along with fine, 2  persons got fine and social service and 280 persons got only fine as the punishment. In Cyberabad, 156 cases were disposed, including 10 cases resulting in fine + jail, 1 with fine + social service, and 145 with fine only.

Traffic officials have appealed to the public to avoid driving after consuming alcohol and to use designated drivers or public transport. The intensified drives are expected to continue as part of the ongoing road safety campaign in the Hyderabad metropolitan region.